History

Founded in 2017, UCAA was the first faith-based organisation established to advocate for the inclusion of the most marginalised groups of people in Uganda using faith-based approaches. This was after the realization that marginalised groups are deprived of their human rights and treated unfairly in our communities, using religion as a justification.

Being that, diversity and Inclusion (D&I) seems to be subjectively understood by a reasonable number of the Ugandan citizenry, there is still a lack of a deeper understanding of the concept and its applicability in the day-to-day life. Ugandan society continues to be divided and eaten up by discrimination of different groups of people based on their differences. Different groups of people continue to be pushed to the margins. Consequently, this has cost our society balanced opinions, and views, and inspired creativity, and innovation that would have enabled a more positive and healthier human experience. It has also fueled economic crisis and Human rights abuse and violations of human rights.

To address these realities, UCAA-UG adopted its 1st five-year Strategic Plan (2019 – 2023) titled; ‘Putting our world to rights: Deepening our struggles, consolidating our gains’. As an overall Goal, UCAA-UG targeted to contribute to creating a safe environment in faith-based and wider communities where the rights of all persons are respected thereby fostering inclusion and acceptance. This five-year plan was based on the need for UCAA-UG to collectively deepen engagement with religious leaders, policymakers, communities and partners from a faith-based perspective. It is this very milestone that has contributed to the development of the second strategic plan for 2024-2028.

Our Approach

We are a network of inclusive faith leaders, people of faith and faith based organisations established in 2017 to advocate for the rights of vulnerable and marginalized persons in Uganda.

We use a faith-based approach to advocate for the inclusion of marginalised persons. That is, we generate knowledge on the interlink between faith and human rights and use it to advocate for the rights of marginalized groups, build the capacity of communities, faith leaders and other stakeholders, psychosocial support and social economic empowerment.

Our vision

A transformed society where religion and faith are used to promote love and inclusion for all.dti.

Our Mission

To advocate for the well-being and respect of human rights of marginalised communities through mindset change using religion and faith-based strategies.

Our Values

Inclusivity

We are responsive to all people’s needs in their diversity and we shall do our level best to genuinely include them and treat them all fairly and equally. We shall be sure to be gender-responsive in our programming and particularly look out for those issues that affect the most vulnerable in our community.

Accountability, transparency and integrity

We take personal responsibility for achieving our objectives. We do what we say we shall do. We do what is right, not merely what is expected. We act with openness, integrity and trust.

Commitment

We are determined to ensure that our objectives and promises are fulfilled. We are steadfast in what we do, resilient and dedicated to our cause.

Respect

We are courteous and compassionate to ourselves, partners and donors. We seek to build considerate collaborations that are mutually reinforcing. We treasure our target communities and seek to constantly show them how important they are as individuals. We treat each other with respect regardless of our status or diversity.

Teamwork

We value and practice working together as a team to achieve our objectives. We build and support each other. We respect and treat each other fairly.

Institutional Objectives
  • To conduct research in order to support advocacy and influence mindset change amongst all communities and policymakers.
  • To provide pastoral care and psychosocial support to address the mental health challenges for marginalised communities.
  • To strengthen the capacities of marginalised communities and other stakeholders using a holistic approach to effectively promote the rights of marginalised persons.
  • To build a strong and progressive network of affirming faith leaders and organisations to further advocate for an inclusive society.
  • To strengthen the capacity and systems of UCAA-UG to deliver quality human rights programs in Uganda.
UCAA’s beneficiaries
  1. Key populations
  2. Women
  3. People Living with disabilities
Goal and Strategic Objectives for 2024-2028

Goal

“Empowered marginalised persons enjoying their rights in an inclusive society”

Strategic Objectives

 Strategic objective 1: To generate knowledge and information on the faith-related realities of marginalized communities to inform advocacy for their rights and well-being.

Strategic Objective 2: To build the capacity of marginalized groups and faith-based leaders to use faith-based strategies to dismantle the bias created by the different faith denominations against marginalized groups.

Strategic objective 3: To improve the economic well-being of marginalized persons through improving their social interactions and economic activities

Strategic objective 4: To build a strong organization with motivated staff, sustained funding and vibrant financial, administrative and operation systems.

DEI Policy Statement

At UCAA we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace drives innovation, creativity, and growth. We ensure equal opportunities for all our employees, regardless of their background, culture, or personal characteristics.

At UCAA we recognize and value the unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our employees, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and marital status. We strive to ensure equal opportunities, treatment, and access to resources for all employees, free from discrimination or bias. We aim to create a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported, with equal opportunities to contribute and succeed.

Guiding Principles

Our guiding principles are; a) We emphasize respect and empathy for all employees; b) We ensure that everyone feels valued and understood; c) We ensure equal opportunities and maintain a non-discriminatory environment; d) We ensure inclusive decision-making processes; e) We are culturally sensitivitive and aware, recognizing and celebrating our diverse backgrounds and; f) We are dedicated to continuous learning and improvements.

Implementation

Our recruitment and hiring practices are designed to attract diverse talent, ensuring a mix of perspectives and experiences. We offer training programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cultural competence, and unconscious bias to educate and empower our employees. Employee resource groups provide support and community building, enhancing the sense of belonging. We have inclusive policies and benefits, such as flexible work arrangements that cater to the diverse needs of our workforce. Additionally, we have established anonymous reporting mechanisms to address any incidents of discrimination or bias, ensuring a safe and respectful work environment for all.

Accountability

At UCAA we hold our leadership accountable to actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the organization. To ensure continuous improvement, we regularly monitor and assess DEI metrics, allowing us to track progress and identify areas for enhancement. We have clear policies in place for disciplinary actions against any incidents of discrimination or bias, underscoring our commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace.

Envisioned change - Intervention logic

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2024-2028

The overall change we want to see is “Empowered marginalised persons enjoying their human rights in an inclusive society.”  The ability of marginalized groups to fully enjoy their human rights is a function of their capacity to influence change in the mindsets of faith and religious leaders, duty bearers and the community towards protecting their rights and increasing their access to services. It further depends on their financial capacity to meet the basic necessities of life, the capacity of UCAA to provide evidence and direction on the use of faith-based strategies, the strength of an affirming faith movement to dismantle myths, and the capacity of UCAA to support marginalized groups achieve these.

Tom Twongyeirwe Junior

National Coordinator

tom@ucaaug.org+256771611630